Registered

It's so sad to me to watch all this devastation and people suffering. I feel everyone is doing their best to get relief and aide to the people but it's not as easy to get everything there as it would if they weren't an Island.

A lot of people that live there already know what it is not to have much, etc. but to suddenly have nothing must be really hard.

Here in America there are many of us who are spoiled rotten...and if we had to go through this it would probably kill us within a day. Lately even America and Americans have been facing some of these very same things and my heart goes out to all of them and my prayers too.

I hope and pray that we will see no more big, bad Hurricanes this season.

Registered

Yes and it could happen but hope not. I'm sure they're last on the list since there were two major hurricanes hitting Texas and Florida first which I would assume takes priority over PR even though it's a commonwealth of the US.

Registered

Which highlights the problem. The tens of thousands of volunteers that drove vehicles towing boats, along with the tens of thousands of Red Cross volunteers, etc. that also drove to Houston and Florida. Then there is the matter of nearly one hundred thousand utility workers that drove to both places, under reciprocal agreements. Where would Florida and Texas be, if depending solely on the federal government or even their own state governments?

In this case, the federal government does not have a mechanism to send thousands of needed utility workers to restore power. We can collect food and send to Puerto Rico on planes and ships, but power restoration is urgently needed. That currently falls almost exclusively on the Island's utility workers, which are likely beyond overwhelmed.

Registered

I think people are trying to help them and I don't believe anyone is deliberately leaving them in the situation they are in. They are on an Island which makes it more difficult to get to. America is dealing with fire, flooding, etc. and is sending as much as aide as they can while doing all they can in our own backyard too. I think everyone is doing the best they can now.

Registered

Gov. Rossello and other officials lauded President Trump and the Federal government for having a comprehensive relief plan in place before the storm hit. The American island of Puerto Rico has long been neglected by the Federal government. The territory, which is home to 3.4 million Americans, does not send Representatives or Senators to Congress and has no Electoral College votes.

Resident Commission Jenniffer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s non-voting congressional representative, explained that President Trump’s response is a welcome change from previous administrations. “This is the first time we get this type of federal coordination,” she added.

Registered

Seems like there needs to be helicopters loading these things up and parachuting them down in the areas that need them if they can find some helicopters to do this. I would think they could.

Yesterday while watching News on all this, they did say they needed trucks, and I'm sure people are trying to get trucks and fuel to them too. Some stuff will probably spoil before it can be given out to those who need it...I think that happens lots of times during disasters. But I do believe everyone is trying their best to help those in need.

Registered

The Govenor of Puerto Rico asked our President to do this....he did...and while he was thanked by the Governor for acting so quickly....all we have from some of our government officials is complaints against Trump for doing this.

Some people just are going to refuse to give Trump a chance...no matter what he does. I'm just glad it doesn't stop him from doing what he feels should be done.

Registered

No matter how much help Puerto Rico gets...everyone over there is going to have to realize it is going to take time and everyone's effort, including the ones who live there who are able to help in any way they can...to return Puerto Rico to what will be their new "normal."

Registered

We have family there and say the electricity will probably be out for a long time. A lot of people are suffering but they can handle it everyone [most] are family groups and help each other. The third world type thinking they will survive better than a first world.

Registered

I'm sure there is alot of truth to what you have said @Ken Anderson...and yet this was still "Home" to a lot of people who did not really understand what a "mess" was until the hurricane struck.

I watched David Muir the other night walking up flights of stairs to interview elderly people who were without electricity, and water and food basically. And the question I asked myself was why wasn't David Muir and his News team bringing water and food into these people while they spent time interviewing them?

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